N. T. Wright
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Nicholas Thomas "Tom" Wright (b. 1 December 1948) is the Bishop of Durham in the Church of England and a leading New Testament scholar. His academic work has usually been published under the name N. T. Wright.
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[edit] Early life and credentials
Wright was born in Morpeth, England. He was raised in the context of middle Anglicanism, and before the age of seven or eight he already felt called to go into Christian ministry.
He is generally perceived as coming from an open evangelical perspective and is associated with the Third Quest for the Historical Jesus and the New Perspective on Paul, a complex movement with many unique positions (originating from the works of James Dunn and E. P. Sanders.) He argues that the current understanding of Jesus must be connected with what is known to be true about him from the historical perspective of first-century Judaism and Christianity. In addition to his doctorate degrees from Merton College, Oxford University, he also has been awarded several honorary doctorate degrees,[1] most recently from Durham University in July 2007.[2]
[edit] Career
Educated at Sedbergh School, then in Yorkshire, Wright specialised in Classics.
From 1968 to 1971, he studied theology and then Literae Humaniores (sometimes called "Greats", i.e. classical literature, philosophy and history) at Exeter College, Oxford. During that time he was president of the undergraduate Oxford Inter-Collegiate Christian Union.
From 1971 to 1975 he studied for the Anglican ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.
In 1975 he became a junior research fellow at Merton College, Oxford and later also later junior chaplain. From 1978 to 1981 he was a fellow and Chaplain at Downing College, Cambridge.
After this, he served as assistant professor of New Testament Studies at McGill University, Montreal, then as Chaplain, Fellow and Tutor at Worcester College and lecturer in New Testament in the University of Oxford.
He moved from Oxford to be Dean of Lichfield Cathedral and then Canon Theologian of Westminster Abbey.
In 2003, he became the Anglican Bishop of Durham.
On 4 August 2006 he was appointed to the Court of Ecclesiastical Causes Reserved for a period of five years.[3]
[edit] Influence and controversy
Wright's work has been praised by many scholars of varying views, including Professor James D. G. Dunn, Richard B. Hays and Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury. Critics of his work are also found across the broad range of theological camps, from conservatives such as Ligon Duncan to liberals like Robert J. Miller and John Shelby Spong.
Within evangelicalism, Wright has been warmly received particularly by those who identify with the postmodern Emerging Church movement. He welcomed the hearing he has gained from the Emerging Church, but noted his own commitment to historical and biblical foundations not always shared by the Emerging Church.[citation needed] Some conservative theologians and others representing the strongly Reformed evangelical tradition, particularly in the United States, have disputed Wright's evangelical credentials. The most contentious issue has been whether he denies the Protestant doctrine of justification by faith alone.
He has also received heavy criticism in some decidedly more liberal circles, e.g. by Robert J. Miller. In contrast, the Jesus Seminar's Marcus Borg, with whom Wright shares mutual admiration and respect, has co-authored with Wright the book The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions. In 2005, at the Greer-Heard Point-Counterpoint Forum, Wright also dialogued with Jesus Seminar co-founder John Dominic Crossan on the historicity of Jesus' resurrection. Wright and Crossan, who also hold mutual admiration for one another, hold very different opinions on this foundational Christian doctrine. For Crossan, the resurrection of Jesus is a theological interpretation of events by the writers of the New Testament. For Wright, however, the resurrection is a historic event - coherent with the worldview of Second Temple Judaism - fundamental to the New Testament.[4]
In 2008, Wright attracted controversy by stating that "...secular utopianism is based on a belief in an unstoppable human ability to make a better world, while at the same time it believes that we have the right to kill unborn children and surplus old people, and to play games with the humanity of those in between."[5]. Times columnist David Aaronovitch challenged Wright specifically to substantiate his claim that any secular group does indeed advocate the killing of elderly people, adding that he believed the Bishop's comments to be "as close to a lie as makes no difference"[6]. Wright did not respond directly to the challenge, but promised to do so if Aaronovitch would answer three questions of his own[7]. In response, Aaronovitch claimed to address Wright's questions, and called upon Wright now to corroborate his original statement as promised[8]. In an article published by The Times, Wright wrote in support of palliative care, and addressed Aaronovitch's criticism: "I said “surplus” people. It might well be said that they are not “surplus”, but simply “suffering”. Fair point, but once you legalise killing (or “helping people kill themselves”), the key question will be: how do you know which people can be killed?". Nonetheless, he added that, "I stand by my (admittedly abbreviated) form of words".[9].
As regards the Historical Jesus, Wright stands broadly in the tradition of Albert Schweitzer (thoroughgoing eschatology), against what he sees as the thoroughgoing skepticism of William Wrede (famous for his thesis on the Messianic Secret in the Gospel of Mark as an apologetic and ahistorical device) and the Jesus Seminar, Wrede's modern-day counterparts.[10]. He tends to agree with and laud such scholars as E.P. Sanders and the lesser-known Ben F. Meyer (whom Wright calls "the unsung hero" of New Testament studies[11]), although he thinks Sanders and others go too far in their use of form criticism. He also thinks it is a mistake to say that Jesus expected the imminence of the end of history, as Schweitzer thought,[12] but rather thinks that Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God as something both present and future.
He was a member of the Lambeth Commission set up to deal with controversies that emerged following Episcopal Church in the United States of America's ordination of a practising homosexual as bishop. Wright is the senior member from the Church of England.[13]
[edit] Opposition to civil partnerships
Wright attracted media attention in December 2005 when he announced to the press, on the day that the first civil partnership ceremonies took place in England, that he would likely take disciplinary action against any clergy registering as civil partners or any clergy blessing such partnerships.[14]
[edit] Selected works
- The Climax of the Covenant: Christ and the Law in Pauline Theology. Fortress Press, 1991.
- Following Jesus: Biblical Reflections on Discipleship. Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1997 / SPCK, 1994
- What Saint Paul Really Said: Was Paul of Tarsus the Real Founder of Christianity? Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1997.
- The Challenge of Jesus: Rediscovering Who Jesus Was and Is. Hardcover ed. InterVarsity Pr., 1999 / SPCK, 2000
- The Resurrection of Jesus: John Dominic Crossan and N.T. Wright in Dialogue. Ed. Robert B. Stewart. Paperback ed. Augsburg Fortress, Pub., 2005 / SPCK 2006 (co-authored with John D. Crossan)
- Paul: Fresh Perspective. Fortress Press, 2005 co-edition SPCK, 2005
- The Last Word: Beyond the Bible Wars to a New Understanding of the Authority of Scripture. Harper SanFrancisco, 2005.
- Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense. Hardcover ed. SPCK, 2006 co-edition HarperCollins Pub., 2006.
- Judas and the Gospel of Jesus: Have We Missed the Truth about Christianity? SPCK 2006 / Baker Books, 2006.
- Evil and the Justice of God. SPCK, 2006 / Intervarsity Press, 2006.
- "The Reasons for Christ's Crucifixion," Stricken by God? Nonviolent Identification and the Victory of Christ (ed. by Brad Jersak and Michael Hardin), 2007.
- Suprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church. HarperOne, 2008.
[edit] Christian Origins and the Question of God series
Six volumes expected:
- The New Testament and the People of God: Christian Origins and the Question of God. Augsburg Fortress, 1992.
- Jesus and the Victory of God: Christian Origins and the Question of God, Volume 2. Augsburg Fortress, 1996.
- The Resurrection of the Son of God. Augsburg Fortress, 2003.
[edit] For Everyone series
- Matthew for Everyone, Part 1: Chapters 1-15. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. SPCK and Westminster John Knox Press, 2004.
- Matthew for Everyone, Part 2: Chapters 16-28. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. SPCK and Westminster John Knox Press, 2004.
- Mark for Everyone. 2nd ed. SPCK and Westminster John Knox Press, 2004.
- Luke for Everyone. 2nd ed. SPCK and Westminster John Knox Press, 2004.
- John for Everyone, Part 1: Chapters 1-10. Paperback ed. SPCK and Westminster John Knox Press, 2004.
- John for Everyone, Part 2: Chapters 11-21. 2nd ed. SPCK and Westminster John Knox Press, 2004.
- Paul for Everyone: 1 Corinthians. 2nd ed. SPCK, 2004.
- Paul for Everyone: 2 Corinthians. 2nd ed. SPCK, 2004.
- Paul for Everyone: the Pastoral Letters. 2nd ed. SPCK, 2004.
- Paul for Everyone, the Prison Letters: Ephesians, Philipians, Colossians and Philemon. 2nd ed. SPCK and Westminster John Knox Press, 2004.
- Hebrews for Everyone. 2nd ed. SPCK, 2004.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Nicholas Thomas Wright, Curriculum Vitae. Retrieved on 2007-07-16.
- ^ Durham University: Anniversary accolades for major achievement (accessed 16 July 2007)
- ^ London Gazette: no. 58062, page 10685, 4 August 2006. Retrieved on 2007-11-21.
- ^ Stewart, Robert B. (2007) The Resurrection of Jesus: William Dembksi and Michael Ruse in Dialogue Minneapolis: Fortress Press. ISBN-13: 978-0800662189
- ^ BBC News In quotes: The ethics of embryos (accessed 31 March 2008)
- ^ Times Online Wicked untruths from the Church (accessed 31 March 2008)
- ^ Times Online Bishops speak out on embryos (accessed 31 March 2008)
- ^ Times Online Who wants to kill the elderly? (accessed 31 March 2008)
- ^ Times Online Euthanasia - a murky moral world (accessed 3 April 2008)
- ^ Wright, N.T. (1999) The Challenge of Jesus InterVarsity Press. ISBN-13: 978-0830822003
- ^ Wright, N.T. (1997) The Original Jesus: The Life and Vision of a Revolutionary Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. ISBN-13: 978-0802842831
- ^ Wright, N.T. (1999) The Challenge of Jesus InterVarsity Press. ISBN-13: 978-0830822003
- ^ The Lambeth Commission on Communion - The Windsor Report - Members
- ^ Gay vicar flouts partnership rule, BBC News (accessed 19 May 2007)
[edit] External links
- The N. T. Wright Page, an unofficial website that collects a panoply of articles, sermons, interviews, and audio by and about Wright
- Adversaria features an extensive biography of N.T Wright.
- Audio of Lectures Wright gave on Space, Time, and the Sacraments.
- Summary of Christian Origins and the Question of God by Andrew Perriman on Open Source Theology
- Nightline Faith Matters - Bishop's Heaven: Is There Life After the Afterlife? Wright Offers New Perspective on Heaven and Hell
[edit] Reviews and criticism
- "The Narrative of Scripture and Justification by Faith: A Still Fresher Reading of Paul" (PDF) by Mark A. Seifrid (a critique of Wright's narrative theology from the 2006 Symposium on Exegetical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary)
- "The Doctrine of Justification in the Work of N.T. Wright" a series of critical lectures by Bill Wilder of the Center for Christian Study (with accompanying slides)
- Interview with Piper on Wright, by John Piper, an evangelical critic of Wright.
- Time Magazine Interview "Christians Wrong About Heaven, Says Bishop"
